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Friday, December 03, 2010

Former Foster Child Fears CAS Will Take Her Baby

A woman has contacted the Foster Care Council of Canada seeking support citing fears that a CAS will take her baby when it is born simply because she was in foster care herself.

The woman informed the Council that a Social Worker she spoke to told her that the fact that she was in care as a child makes it a real risk of having her child being apprehended at birth.

Apparently hospitals have lists of names given to them from CAS's across the province which make the hospitals call CAS when a child is born to those on the list. Prior involvement with a CAS is often a reason for having their name on the list.

This happened in Ottawa where a mother gave birth to a child and her name was on the hospital list having been in care herself. That mother is still fighting for the return of her child several months later.

The Council will monitor this situation and report on it as it develops.

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General Information

Donating to a CAS Foundation?Donating to a Children's Aid Society Foundation? Consider supporting former foster children who advocate for improvements in child welfare by e-mailing johndunn@afterfostercare.ca

Misappropriated Ministry FundsLearn more about over $2.5 Million per year in child welfare funds going toward paid lobbyists, the OACAS [link]

A Visit to the MinistryChris Carter and Families Visit Ministry of Children and Youth Services [link]

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CAS Board Meetings

Call your CAS to find out when their regular Board of Directors meetings are held and how you can attend to watch and participate. If you experience any resistance to your attendance call the Council at 613-220-1039 for support.

For example: Ottawa CASThe Ottawa CAS Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Head Office of the CAS at 1602 Telesat Court, Ottawa, ON, at 5:30pm in the Gloucester Room of the Society. (a short walk over the glass tunnel from Blair Transitway Station (away from the Mall not toward it)

Simply go into the main office of the CAS if doors are unlocked or buzz security if they are locked, then just sign in at the front desk telling Security you are there to attend the Board meeting.

When you sign in, the sheet asks who invited you, or who your contact person is, just put Barbara MacKinnon as she is the Executive Director and as head of the corporation offers an open invitation to the public to attend in accordance with their internal By-Laws. You can learn more by calling the Ottawa CAS at 613-747-7800 and ask for the Executive Office.